Neighbors: See you at the fair

The Franklin County Fair opened Thursday night and I’m sure many of you rushed to get that first bite of fried dough this season.

I invited people to have dinner at my place on Saturday, before we all head to the fair, and got a unanimous “no.”

“Are you kidding?” they said. “We want fair food.”

The fair continues through Sunday with live musical performances, daily attractions, midway rides, exhibits and shows, children’s activities, horse draws and oxen pulls and the demolition derby on Sunday at 5:30 p.m.

This year, New England Center for Circus Arts, located in Brattleboro, Vt., will offer some new entertainment. The center’s troupe will perform four shows on Saturday and another four shows on Sunday.

Many other local groups will perform dance, martial arts and more.

Robinson’s Racing Pigs and Flying High Frisbee Dogs will also take part.

I can already smell the local fare cooking under large tents and hear the sound of children laughing, while bells ring to announce the winners of their favorite games.

I can’t wait to get there. I’m going with daughter-in-law Suzanne, grandson Justin, and my ex-husband Jeff (Justin’s grandpa). I’m hoping to convince my daughter Christina to join us with twins Owen and Travis, who, by the way, will celebrate their first birthday on Tuesday — I can’t believe it.

For those of you who don’t feel like walking the fairgrounds Saturday night but would like to get out, think about heading to Athol to sit and relax in a nice park and listen to the music of folk-pop singer and songwriter Jonathan Edwards, best known for his 1972 hit song “Sunshine,” along with Franklin County’s very own Ethan Stone, singer-songwriter and producer of the 10-year-old Tool Town Live concert series.

This concert will close the Tool Town Live season and will be held in Fish Park at 140 Union St. If it rains, and let’s hope it doesn’t, it will be held in Memorial Hall at 584 Main St.

Currently, it looks like Franklin County is in for a beautiful weekend, with no rain. According to the National Weather Service in Taunton, it will be 71 degrees on Friday, 78 degrees on Saturday and 74 degrees on Sunday. We couldn’t ask for better.

You all have a wonderful weekend and I’ll see some of you at the fair on Saturday evening.

THE LIONS OF FRANKLIN COUNTY will be collecting used eyeglasses and hearing aids at the information booth (under the Grandstand) at the Franklin County Fair this weekend. The used eye glasses are processed and sent to Third World countries and given to people with vision problems. I’m not sure what the Lions do with the hearing aids, but I’m sure they use them to help people with hearing problems.

ON SATURDAY, Greenfield Savings Bank will host Jackie Herzig, owner of the Face and Eye, who will bring her artistic and elaborate face painting, glitter tattoos and temporary Colorini tattoos to Avenue A in Turners Falls. Jackie will display her work and choose several lucky people from the audience to be her models.

The event will begin at 10 a.m. and end at noon.

I JUST WANTED TO TAKE A MINUTE to remind you of the wonderful businesses and organizations we have here in Franklin County.

Poet’s Seat Health Care Center will host a complimentary barbecue for local EMS workers on Sept. 13. I’m told an invitation has been extended to all police, fire and ambulance staff in Greenfield to stop by that day to enjoy a free lunch.

Poet’s Seat said it wanted to take the time to thank all local EMS workers for the tremendous service they provide to the community each and every day.

“We appreciate all that they do for the safety, health and security of everyone,” said Poet’s Seat staff.

If you are a local EMS worker, get there between 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. on Sept. 13 for a hamburger, hot dog, chips and a beverage.

“Thank you” Poet’s Seat!

ALSO, GREENFIELD ELKS LODGE 1296 held a 65-mile motorcycle poker run to benefit the Wounded Warrior Project and raised $500. About 50 motorcyclists participated, and after the ride about 75 people enjoyed a chicken barbecue with all of the fixings.

Thanks all! I’m sure our wounded warriors appreciate your kindness.

NEW SALEM CENTRAL CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH’S hootenanny band, also known as The HootenZanies, will hold its third annual Benefit Hootenanny for the Friends of New Salem Public Library on Sept. 22 from 2 to 4 p.m. at Batenkil Farm, 137 South Main St. in New Salem.

Bring your lawn chairs, beverages and coolers. There will also be refreshments for sale.

During the concert, a hat will be passed to collect money for the continuing improvement of New Salem Public Library’s programming, book purchases, electronic readers, computers and more.

PLEASE DON’T FORGET that Anne Marwick is still collecting non-religious Christmas cards to send to our troops. She said they are very grateful to get cards from the good people of Franklin County, so keep bringing them to me. Just drop them off at The Recorder at 14 Hope St. in Greenfield, and Kelsey, the pretty young woman at the front desk, will make sure to get them to me, so that I can get them to Anne. Thanks again!

To contact Anita Fritz, a staff reporter at The Recorder, send an email to: franklincountyneighbors@gmail.com or call 413-772-0261, ext. 280. You can also reach Anita on Facebook at Anita’s Neighbors. Information to be included in Neighbors may also be sent to: neighbors@recorder.com up to noon two days before you want it to run.